Zebra Coral Found Thriving in Northern Japan, Possibly Due to Global Warming

A species of coral previously not found this far north in Japanese waters has been discovered thriving off the coast of Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture. This discovery, made by a staff member of local diving store Urban Sports and confirmed by Professor Hiroya Yamano of the University of Tokyo, suggests that the northern limit of the reef-building coral habitat may be expanding due to global warming.

The coral, known as kikumeishimodoki or zebra coral, was found in nine locations about 20 meters off the coast of the Kamo district. This is approximately 80 kilometers north of Sado Island, which was previously considered the northernmost limit of its habitat.

Zebra coral is known for its ability to thrive in murky environments with low water temperatures. While it was previously believed that this species could only survive in average monthly water temperatures of up to 10 degrees, the newly discovered coral is found in waters with average monthly temperatures as low as 8 degrees.

Professor Yamano believes that the coral's ability to grow at lower-than-expected temperatures could be a sign of global warming. He also suggests that changes in ocean currents or the possibility of zebra coral being more adaptable to cold temperatures than previously thought could be contributing factors.

Regardless of the cause, the discovery of zebra coral thriving in northern Japan suggests that the distribution of reef-building coral may be shifting northward. This finding highlights the potential impact of climate change on marine ecosystems and underscores the need for further research to understand the implications of these changes.